This is the season of hope. What are you hoping for? A nice gift? Quality time with the family? The greatest gift was given to us some 2000 years ago. The gift of hope. The gift of salvation. The gift of grace. God gave each of us the opportunity to accept that gift. That is hope. It’s not just a wish. It’s confidence, trust, expectation. As believers, we have that confident expectation that one day we will be in heaven with Christ. Not because of anything we have done, but because God loved us so much He sent His only Son to pay for our sins, to die on the cross, and to be raised from the dead, giving us victory over sin and death. It’s not just looking forward to it; it’s already been done.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hope is closely tied to faith. Through faith, we have hope.
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith enables us to see the truth. Hope gives us that confidence that this truth is real. Hope gives us that expectation and longing for that day when we will be in the presence of almighty God. Jesus came to this earth 2000 years ago to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. He took the sins of the world on His shoulders, a very heavy burden, and died on the cross for us. For me!
Romans 8:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
No matter what we go through on this earth, we know that a day is coming when everything will be made right. As followers of Christ, we have been declared righteous, and have been adopted as sons and daughters of God. We have that hope of that new home, when we will be at rest. We will no longer have to worry about anything. We will be in His presence. Now is the time to accept the gift that God has given us, to give us that hope. We are saved by His grace through faith. Because once we are before His throne, when He opens the Book of Life, it is no longer faith, because faith that is seen is not faith. And faith is the evidence of our hope. We who believe will appear before the judgement seat of Christ for our reward, and those who do not believe will go before the Great White Throne judgement. (see What Crown will We Receive?) Thank God that He offers freely eternal life to those who believe and have faith. There is no greater gift than that.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Hope is not just wishful thinking. It is knowing that we are saved and one day will be at our true home with God for all eternity. It is confidence, not in ourselves, but in our Creator, our Savior.
Psalms 71:5-6
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.
David says that God is his hope. He looks out for us from the time we were in our mothers’ womb. Though we may not always see it, He always does what is best for us. Our hope is in Christ.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
God works all things together for good to those who love him (Romans 8:28). He has a plan for each one of us. He always had a plan. That’s why we were born. That is why He sent His Son.
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My Daily Scriptures 